Mel Flanagan is a social justice, environmental, open government advocate, data storyteller, experience and information designer. Mel has been involved in making theatre, film, documentaries and useful software tools and digital products for over 30 years. She is a pioneer in producing collaborative open government projects, designing data narratives and visualising processes such as legislation to improve transparency, community and industry engagement.

Mel is the Chair of the Publish What You Pay Australia Steering Committee. She is the founder of Nook Studios, a social enterprise and company of researchers, makers, artists, designers, and creative civic technologists based in Sydney, Australia. Nook collaborates with governments, NGOs, advocacy, community and First Nations' organisations. MakingOpen.org is a Nook initiative to connect advocates and changemakers using visual designs and stories.